Now rare. Also 5 vberte, uberte(e; 7 ubertie. [a. OF. uberté (= It. ubertà, Pg. uberdade), or ad. L. ūbertās, f. ūber: cf. prec. and -TY.] Rich growth, fruitfulness, fertility; copiousness, abundance.
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Two Merchants, 613. Greyne oppressith to moche vberte.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 104. A vine abundaunt ek thow take hem fro, And not hem take that ber a grape or too, But hem that kneleth doun for vberte. Ibid., VIII. 68. Of pasturyng they must haue vberie, Fro breris fer.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. vii. 11 b/1. An ydolle, whyche somtyme was by prestes & other peple born in processyon for to obteyne uberte & habundaunce of rayne.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxx. (1632), 104. They yet enjoy that naturall ubertie and fruitfulnesse, which … doth in such plenteous aboundance furnish them with all necessary things.
1623. Cockeram, Vbertie, fertility, abundance. [Hence in Blount, Phillips, etc.]
1900. Westm. Gaz., 6 April, 7/3. So these happy volatile fellows talk on, with a uberty of optimism.
